A Tale of Two Love Stories

New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks has done it again. His latest love story, “The Longest Ride,” based on his book of the same name, is another stirring romance tale following behind, most recently, 2013’s “Safe Haven” and 2014’s “The Best of Me.” Both of those movies were thoroughly enjoyable and “The Longest Ride” doesn't disappoint either.

“The Longest Ride” intertwines two love stories from two very different time periods; one follows young love, while the other tells a love story that blossomed back in the 1930s.

Clint Eastwood's son, Scott Eastwood, stars as professional bull rider Luke Collins. It's a chance happening that brings Luke together with college student Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson) just weeks before she's to leave a small North Carolina town for her dream job in New York. Alan Alda stars as 91-year-old Ira Levinson who’s lost the love of his life, his wife Ruth, who passed away years ago. It's also by chance that Luke and Sophia meet Ira who begins to share his and Ruth's love story with Sophia.

Through the sharing of a decades-long love story, Luke and Sophia learn something about the joys and the sorrows that are not uncommon in many couple's lives, including their own.

Directed by George Tillman, Jr., “The Longest Ride,” does a wonderful job weaving the two stories together without turning sappy. In addition to just being enjoyable to watch, it also shows us a thing or two about what’s really important in life.

As a young couple, Oona Chaplin stars as Ruth and Jack Huston (the nephew of actors Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston) stars as Ira.

See you at the movies!

Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee

Member:

Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA)

Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS)

African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)

Digital Arts, Film & Television (DAFT)

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Stay close to your fandom and get the latest stories and updates about all things Movie Pilot.